The best tour operators in the world 2018

Who do you trust to take you to the ends of the earth and back, curating a whole bagful of adventures? With high scores across the board, particularly for reliability, Turquoise got there first; while for specialist bespoke travel, expert Scott Dunn forged ahead with its first-hand knowledge and reassuring service. The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.

Advertisement

Read next

The best ski resorts in the world

15. Mr & Mrs Smith. Score 69.03

Rocca delle Tre Contrade, Italy.

Oivind Haug

The best villa rental companies in the world 2018

Villa expectations have evolved over the decades: now a request for a surf butler and a treehouse wouldn’t raise an eyebrow. Oliver’s Travels, which was rated for value for money, can even sort a sea fort, while Tuscany Now & More’s single-destination focus scored highly. The Thinking Traveller’s island-hopping Mediterranean collection got top marks for presentation and on-the-ground support, and villa-with-pool specialist Vintage Travel made its debut this year.

Read next

The best countries in the world to visit

The best tour operators in the world 2017

Who do you trust to take care of those bespoke travel arrangements? For sheer reliability and choice of locations, TheTurquoise Holiday Company led the way, while slick service helped Scott Dunn retain its title for best specialist. The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.

Originally published in the October 2017 issue of Condé Nast Traveller

Nambia, Scott Dunn

The best tour operators in the world 2016

In the Readers' Travel Awards 2016 we asked you to vote for the best tour operators in the world. Carrier is your preferred tour operator thanks to the variety of its locations and range of places to stay, but you ranked Elegant Resorts high for first-hand knowledge of destinations and The Turquoise Holiday Company for service and reliability. In the specialist tour operator category, the winner is Scott Dunn, which you say is best for range of places to stay, but Cazenove+Loyd knows its subject astoundingly well and spa specialist Healing Holidays has a reputation for service.

1. Carrier. Score 83.49

2. Elegant Resorts. Score 82.89

3. The Turquoise Holiday Company. Score 82.74

4. Trailfinders. Score 82.08

5. Abercrombie & Kent. Score 81.75

6. British Airways Holidays. Score 81.03

7. ITC Luxury Travel. Score 79.69

8. Virgin Holidays. Score 79.29

9. Kuoni. Score 78.60

10. Kenwood Travel. Score 77.68

11. Cox & Kings. Score 77.30

12. Red Savannah. Score 76.52

13. The Ultimate Travel Company. Score 75.73

14. Black Tomato. Score 75.66

15. Tauck. Score 74.43

The best specialist tour operators in the world 2016

1. Scott Dunn. Score 85.21

2. Cazenove+Loyd. Score 84.93

3. Healing Holidays. Score 83.37

4. Powder Byrne. Score 83.24

5. Greaves Travel. Score 82.96

6. Audley Travel. Score 82.71

7. Africa Travel. Score 81.35

8. Natural World Safaris. Score 81.08

9. Journey Latin America. Score 80.79

10. Bridge & Wickers. Score 79.45

Originally published in the October 2016 issue of Condé Nast Traveller

Ladakh, Red Savannah Tours

The best tour operators in the world 2015

In the Readers' Travel Awards 2015 you voted The Turquoise Holiday Company your favourite tour operator thanks to its reliability and service. You reckon last year's winner Carrier is still first-rate for range of places to stay, and seek out Trailfinders for its variety of destinations. In the specialist tour operator category, Scott Dunn led the way for reliability, as did runner-up Audley Travel for service; but for level of expertise in spas there's no touching Healing Holidays, and Natural World Safaris is a marvel for first-hand knowledge of destinations.

1. The Turquoise Holiday Company. Score 84.93

2. Carrier. Score 83.55

3. Trailfinders. Score 81.72

4. Abercrombie & Kent. Score 80.33

5. Kuoni. Score 76.92

6. Virgin Holidays. Score 78.46

7. Hayes & Jarvis. Score 76.63

8. Elegant Resorts. Score 75.56

9. Destinology. Score 74.73

10. Wexas Travel. Score 74.58

11. Red Savannah. Score 74.50

12. Steppes Travel. Score 74.26

13. Cox & Kings. Score 72.82

14. ITC Luxury Travel. Score 71.46

15. The Ultimate Travel Company. Score 70.71

The best specialist tour operators in the world 2015

1. Scott Dunn. Score 85.40

2. Audley Travel. Score 84.73

3. Bridge & Wickers. Score 84.52

4. Journey Latin America. Score 82.46

5. Natural World Safaris. Score 80.49

6. Healing Holidays. Score 79.99

7. Powder Byrne. Score 79.94

8. Africa Travel. Score 77.66

9. Cazenove+Loyd. Score 76.57

10. Greaves Travel. Score 74.47

Originally published in the October 2015 issue of Condé Nast Traveller